Press for repairing pallet deckboards

ABSTRACT

The press includes a pallet support structure and a horn carried on a pantographic linkage biased to locate the horn for reception between upper and lower deckboards of a pallet disposed on the support structure. The horn carries a wedge which underlies a lower press platen. The press also carries an upper platen. In use, a pallet is disposed on the support structure with the horn received between the deckboards. The portion of a deckboard undergoing repair is located between the registering platens and the upper platen is moved downwardly to embed a reinforcing plate into the top face of the deckboard. A cylinder displaces the wedge carried by the horn to raise a reinforcing plate carried by the lower platen into engagement with the underside of the deckboard. Upon engagement, and continued displacement of the wedge, the horn is displaced downwardly through its pantographic linkage mounting until it rests on the lower deckboards whereupon further displacement of the wedge raises the lower platen to embed the teeth of the reinforcing plate into the underside of the deckboard.

United States Patent [1 1 Jureit et al.

[ Sept. 24, 974

[ PRESS FOR REPAIRING PALLET DECKBOARDS [75] Inventors: John Calvin Jureit, Coral Gables; Benjamin Harry Kushner, Miami, both of Fla.

[73] Assignee: Automated Building Components,

Inc., Miami, Fla.

22 Filed: Mar. 27, 1973 21 Appl.No.:345,320

Primary ExaminerGranville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Leblanc & Shur [5 7 ABSTRACT The press includes a pallet support structure and a horn carried on a pantographic linkage biased to locate the horn for reception between upper and lower deckboards of a pallet disposed on the support structure. The horn carries a wedge which underlies a lower press platen. The press also carries an upper platen. In use, a pallet is disposed on the support structure with the horn received between the deckboards. The portion of a deckboard undergoing repair is located between the registering platens and the upper platen is moved downwardly to embed a reinforcing plate into the top face of the deckboard. A cylinder displaces the wedge carried by the horn to raise a reinforcing plate carried by the lower platen into engagement with the underside of the deckboard. Upon engagement, and continued displacement of the wedge, the horn is displaced downwardly through its pantographic linkage mounting until it rests on the lower deckboards whereupon further displacement of the wedge raises the lower platen to embed the teeth of the reinforcing plate into the underside of the deckboard.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures III III PAIENTEDswzmsm SHEET 1 0? Q WQE PRESS FOR REPAIRING PALLET DECKBOARDS The present invention relates to a press and particularly relates to a press for use in repairing the deckboards of a pallet by securing reinforcing plates to the opposite sides of the damaged deckboard.

Pallets of the type having a plurality of laterally spaced stringers connected one to the other by a plurality of deckboards secured along the upper or both the upper and lower edges of the stringers are conventionally employed for handling and storing a wide variety of loads. Such pallets are normally either two or fourway entry pallets. That is, the tines of a forklift truck are receivable between the stringers and under the deckboards or through openings in the stringers respectively whereby the pallet and load carried thereby are easily moved by a forklift truck. It will be appreciated that constant use of these pallets under various loadings and movement of the pallets and loads by utilizing a forklift as well as the loading and unloading of material relative to the pallets very often results in damage to the pallet structure and particularly damage to the deckboards. For example, the deckboards can be cracked, chipped or weakened at virtually any location therealong during normal use and oftentimes one or more of the deckboards are sufficiently weakened as to render the pallet no longer useful for its intended purpose. When this occurs, the pallets are normally discarded or traded for new pallets.

The present invention provides a press for repairing the deckboards of pallets particularly by applying sheet metal reinforcing plates to the opposite sides of the damaged portions of the deckboards. These reinforcing plates have integrally struck teeth projecting on one side thereof which, when embedded into the pallet, secure the plate thereto and reinforce and strengthen the damaged portion or portions of the deckboards. The plates are applied on opposite sides of the deckboard and the plates are seated such that the outer surfaces of the plates, when the pallet is finally repaired, lie flush with the surface of the deckboards. It will be appreciated that such plates must be applied to both sides of the deckboard undergoing repair and that only a minimum space is provided between the upper and lower deckboards of a standard pallet. Thus, unique problems are associated with the application of reinforcing plates to the deckboards of a pallet and those problems are solved by the press of the present invention.

Particularly, the press thereof comprises a pair of C- shaped support plates on which is carried by means of a pantographic linkage a horn. The lower legs of the support plates carry pallet supports including a centrally disposed table while the upper legs carry a hydraulic cylinder mounting an upper press platen in spaced vertical registry above the horn and table. The horn carries a lower press platen in vertical registry with the upper press platen and a wedge which, when displaced outwardly, bears against complementary inclined surfaces on the lower platen to raise and lower it along a pair of guide pins. The horn is spring-biased to a centered position elevated above the upper and lower deckboards of a pallet disposed on the support table. In use, the pallet is disposed on the support table with the portion of the deckboard undergoing repair located between the upper and lower platens. Reinforcing plates of the type having integrally struck teeth are disposed for application on the opposite sides of the deckboards, the upper plate being disposed directly on the upper surfaces of the deckboard and the lower plate being disposed on the lower platen. When the wedge is laterally displaced, the lower platen is moved upwardly such that the tips of the teeth on the lower plate engage the deckboard. Continued displacement of the wedge forces the horn downwardly through its pantographic linkage against the upper surface of the lower deckboards which rest on the table. Further continued displacement of the wedge then displaces the lower platen upwardly to embed the teeth of the lower reinforcing plate into the underside of the deckboard. Simultaneously, the teeth of the upper plate are embedded into the upper side of the deckboard by the upper platen. Sufficient pressure is exerted to press the plate portions of the plate to positions lying flush with the corresponding surfaces of the deckboard. The wedge is then withdrawn whereby the horn is spring returned to its centered position to permit withdrawal of the repaired pallet from the support structure.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved press particularly adapted for repairing the deckboards of pallets.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved press for repairing pallets by embedding reinforcing plates of the type having integrally struck teeth into the opposite sides of the damaged portions of pallet deckboards.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved press for repairing pallets wherein the pallets can be readily and easily moved into and out of repair position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved press for repairing the deckboards of pallets and which press is simple and economical in construction, readily and easily operated and exerts sufficient force on the reinforcing plates applied to the damaged portions of the deckboards whereby the outer surfaces of the plates lie flush with the outer surfaces of the deckboards upon final securement of the plates to the pallets.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, appended claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a press for repairing pallet deckboards as constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view thereof taken generally about on line 3-3 in FIG. 2 and specifically illustrating the position of the horn at the beginning of the pressing cycle;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof with parts broken out for ease of illustration;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views thereof taken about on lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 specifically illustrating the position of the horn in an intermediate stage of the pressing cycle;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the position of the horn at the conclusion of the pressing cycle and prior to return of the horn to the position illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken generally about on line 9-9 in FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a press generally indicated for repairing the deckboards of a pallet indicated P, the press 10 comprising a pair of generally C-shaped plates 12 spaced transversely one from the other by upper and lower spacer plates 14 and 16, respectively. Plates 12 are mounted on horizontally extending base plates 18 with suitable supporting gussets 20 extending between base plates 18 and upstanding plates 12. A pair of openings 21 are provided through each of the plates 14 for receiving the tines of a forklift truck whereby press 10 can be moved by a forklift truck to any desired location. Carried on the lower legs 22 of C-shaped plates 12 is a pallet support table 24 comprised of a central table portion 26 and a pair of outrigger supports 28. Each outrigger support 28 includes a frame comprised of longitudinally and transversely extending interconnected angles or beams 30 and 32, respectively, forming an outrigger frame. Mounted on each of beams 30 at longitudinally spaced positions therealong is a plurality of spaced casters 34. Each caster 34 includes a roller bearing 36 projecting from its upper end. The outrigger frames are suitably supported and braced by brackets 38 connected to the lower legs of C-shaped plates 12.

Disposed between the upper legs of the C-shaped plates 12 is a fluid activated cylinder 40. The piston of cylinder 40 carries at its lower end an upper press platen 42 and which platen 42 lies in registry above table 26.

The pallet P is also specifically disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is comprised of a plurality of laterally spaced stringers 44 connected one to the other by a plurality of longitudinally spaced upper and lower deckboards 46 and 48, respectively. While deckboards are illustrated on both sides of pallet P, it will be appreciated that the press hereof is also useful in repairing the deckboards of pallets wherein the deckboards lie on solely one side of the stringers. Pallet P is accordingly of conventional construction and, as illustrated in FIG. 1, may be positioned on the outrigger supports positioned on the outrigger supports 28 and table 26 between the upper and lower legs of the C-shaped frame members 12 and below the upper press platen 42. The roller bearings 36 permit the pallet P to be readily and easily shifted about in a horizontal plane.

A horn or carriage, generally indicated 50, and which carries a lower press platen 52, extends between upstanding plates 12 and between their upper and lower legs for reception within the pallet P between its longitudinally extending stringers and the overlying and underlying deckboards 46 and 48, respectively. Horn 50 is carried by C-shaped plates 12 for vertical movement in such a manner that the horn remains horizontally disposed relative to table 26 and to the pallet P located on the outrigger supports 28 and table 26 throughout its full range of vertical movement. Particularly, horn 50 is secured to the C-shaped plates 12 by a pantographic linkage generally indicated 54 and described in detail hereinafter. Horn 50 comprises a floating hydraulic cylinder 56, a vertically extending bracket 58 secured to the forward end of cylinder 56, an actuator bar 60, a wedge 62 and a housing 64 for the actuator bar and wedge. More particularly, the piston 66 of cylinder 56 is secured to the rear end of actuator bar 60. The opposite end of actuator bar 60 and the inner end of wedge 62 are formed to provide a lapped joint which facilitates securement of each to the other. The housing 64 includes a longitudinally extending base plate 68 secured at one end to bracket 58, for example, by welding. Side walls 70, as illustrated in FIG. 5, are secured along the lateral edges of base plate 68 whereby a generally U-shaped housing for actuator bar 60 and wedge 62 is provided. A cover plate 72 is secured along the upper edges of side walls 70.

A pair of guide pins 74 are longitudinally spaced one from the other and upstand from the forward end of base plate 68. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, wedge 62 is bifurcated to provide side-by-side but spaced wedge portions 76 which, when the wedge is extended to underly the lower press platen 52, straddle guide pins 74. Each of wedge portions 76 has a downwardly sloping upper wedge surface 78. The lower face of the lower platen 52 is provided with a pair of complementary upwardly inclined surfaces 80 which straddle a downwardly extending central projection 82. Bearings 84 extend vertically through lower platen 52 and within projection 82 to provide a smooth bearing surface for guiding the lower platen 52 during its vertical movement toward and away from the deckboard undergoing repair, i.e., movement of the platen 52 toward and away from base plate 68. Consequently, it will be seen that movement of wedge 62 away from and toward its actuating cylinder 56 results in the raising and lowering movement of the lower plate 52 along the guide pins 74 due to the wedging action between complementary wedge surfaces 78 and 80. For purposes hereinafter more specifically set forth, the upper surface of lower platen 52 is provided with a magnet 86. Further, the side walls 70 of horn 50 extend beyond the guide pins 74 to meet and terminate in an arcuate end having a cover plate 88 therefor.

As will be recalled, horn 50 is carried by the press by a floating pantographic linkage 54. The pantographic linkage 54 and mounting therefor enables the horn 50 to normally obtain a position spaced from table 26 such that the horn can be received between the deckboards of a pallet P with the lower boards resting on table 26. That is, horn 50 is normally elevated above table 26 such that the pallet can be shifted horizontally on the outrigger supports to locate the deckboard undergoing repair between the upper and lower press platens with the lower deckboard resting on table 26 and spaced below horn 50. It will be appreciated that the horn must, therefore, be centered for reception between the deckboards as well as maintained in a position elevated above table 26 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the lower deckboards. This is accomplished through the pantographic linkage 54 and its mounting which comprises upper and lower bars 90 and 92, respectively, pivotally secured at their forward ends to the vertically extending bracket 58. Lower bar 92 is pivotally secured at its rearward end to a pair of lugs 94 in turn carried by a bracket 96 secured to the C-shaped plates 12. The opposite or rearward end of bar 90 is rigidly connected to a generally vertically extending plate 98 pivoted along its lateral edges and intermediate its upper and lower edges to a pair of lugs 100 projecting from bracket 96. To maintain horn 50 elevated above table 26 and centered whereby the pallet can be received over the horn, a spring 102 seats at one end in a recess 104 formed in the lower end of plate 98 and spaced from its pivotal axis. The opposite end of spring 102 bears against a cap 106 carried on the end of a nut 108. Nut 108 is screwthreaded within'a housing 110 secured to bracket 96. It will be appreciated that by threading and unthreading screw 108 the pressure of spring 102 against plate 98 can be adjusted as desired. On the side of the pivotal axis of bar 90 remote from spring 102, there is provided a stop screw 114 which is threaded through the upper end of bracket 96. The tip of screw 114 bears against the upper end of plate 98.

From the foregoing description of the pantographic linkage 54 and its mounting, it will be appreciated that horn 50 can be maintained in selected elevated positions above table 26 in accordance with the adjustment screw 114. That is, spring 102 biases plate 98 for pivotal movement in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 3 such that the upper end of plate 98 is maintained in following engagement against the tip of screw 114. Thus, by threading or unthreading screw 114 the horn 50 can be raised or lowered as desired. Note that with such an arrangement the horn 50 at all times remains parallel to table 26 throughout its full range of vertical movement. This movable mounting for the horn 50 also enables the reaction force for the pressing operation to be transmitted through the horn to the underlying table 26 and the upper cylinder 40 as will become apparent from the following description of the operation of the press hereof.

In operation, screw 114 is adjusted such that the horn is elevated above table 26 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the lower deckboards of the pallet undergoing repair. Also, this distance is maintained by the action of spring 102 such that born 50 is receivable between the deckboards of the pallets when the pallets are disposed on the outrigger supports and table 26. A pair of plates 150 are utilized to repair the deckboards and preferably each plate is comprised of sheet metal having a plurality of teeth struck to prject to one side for embedment into the wooden deckboard. Plates of this type are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,877,520 and others and the disclosure of US. Pat. No. 2,877,520 is incorporated herein by reference thereto as though fully set forth herein. One of plates 150 is disposed on the lower platen 52 overlying magnet 86 with the teeth of the plate projecting upwardly, the magnet holding the plate on the platen. With the horn centered as described and a plate positioned on the lower platen, a pallet P is disposed on the outriggers and table 26 and the portion of the deckboard which is to be repaired is located between the upper and lower platens 42 and 52, respectively, by longitudinally shifting the pallet on the outriggers and table. The other of plates 150 is then disposed on top of the portion of the deckboard needing repair and in vertical registry below upper platen 42, the plate being disposed with its teeth directed downwardly for embedment into the deckboard.

To start the press cycle, cylinders 40 and 56 are simultaneously actuated by suitable control valves, not shown. When cylinder 56 is actuated, the actuator bar 60 displaces wedge 62 forwardly toward the end of horn 50. As illustrated upon review of FIGS. 3 and 7, displacement of wedge 62 in this forward direction causes the lower platen 52 to be raised along the guide pins 74 by the wedging action of the complementary wedging surfaces 78 and 80. The lower platen 52 is thus raised until the tips of the teeth of the lower plate engage the undersurface of the deckboard undergoing repair. Further displacement of wedge 62, however,

causes the horn 50 to translate vertically downwardly through its pantographic linkage 54 against the bias of spring 102 until the underside of the horn engages the lower deckboards. It will be appreciated that during this latter downward movement of horn 50, the lower press platen 62 remains spacially motionless, i.e., does not move relative to the deckboard whereby the teeth of the lower plate are maintained in engagement with the underside of the deckboard undergoing repair. Continued forward displacement of wedge 62 thereafter moves the lower platen 52 upwardly relative to the horn to embed the teeth of the lower plate into the deckboard. During embedment of the teeth of the lower plate, horn 50 remains stationary with table 26 providing the reaction force for the wedging action through horn 50 and the deckboards between horn 50 and the table 26. Simultaneously with the securement of the lower plate to the underside of the deckboard undergoing repair, the cylinder 40 extends upper platen 42 to engage the upper plate and embed its teeth into the upper surface of the deckboard undergoing repair and in opposition to the lower plate.

When the teeth of the upper and lower plates are flnally embedded, the cylinders 40 and 56 are retracted to retract the upper and lower platens. Particularly, when wedge 62 is withdrawn, for example, to the left as illustrated in FIG. 3, spring 102 pivots plate 98 and hence translates horn 50in a vertical direction back to its centered position with the upper end of bracket 98 engaging the tip of stop screw 114. Continued withdrawal of the wedge thereafter enables the lower platen 52 to slide downwardly along guide pins 74 and within the horizontal confines of the horn per se whereby platen 52 is withdrawn from engagement with the lower plate. Simultaneously, the upper plate 42 is retracted. The repaired pallet can then be removed from between the legs of the C-shaped frame or shifted in position for repair of another deckboard.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

1 claim:

1. A press for repairing the deckboards of pallets of the type having a pair of stringers and a plurality of deckboards overlying at least one side of the stringers, the press being adapted to apply reinforcing plates of the type having teeth struck integrally and projecting to one side of the plates along the underside of a pallet deckboard comprising a press frame including a support for carrying a pallet,

a carriage carried by said frame and carrying a press platen for movement in opposite directions respectively toward and away from one of the deckboards of the pallet carried by said support,

said platen being adapted to carry a sheet metal reinforcing plate for movement therewith,

means carried by said carriage for moving said platen and the plate carried thereby toward the one deckboard for embedding teeth of the plate into the one deckboard including a wedge engageable with a complementary wedge surface on said platen,

means carried by said frame mounting said wedge for movement in one direction causing the platen to move toward the one deckboard,

said moving means further including means for moving said wedge in said one direction to move the platen and the reinforcing plate carried thereby toward the one deckboard,

means carried by said frame mounting said carriage,

said wedge, and said platen for movement in like directions as said platen, first reaction means carried by said press frame on the side of the carriage remote from said platen, said carriage being movable in a direction away from the one deckboard into engagement with said first reaction means in response to movement of said wedge in said one direction whereby said first reaction means provides a reaction force through said carriage for said platen when the latter and the reinforcing plate carried thereby are moved toward the one deckboard in response to continued movement of the wedge in said one direction, and second reaction means carried by said frame on the opposite side of the one deckboard from said platen to provide a reaction force against which said platen presses when it is moved toward the one deckboard thereby enabling embedment of the teeth of the reinforcing plate in the deckboard.

2. The press according to claim 1 including means for locating said carriage in a first position spaced above said support and means for returning said carriage to said first position after displacement thereof into engagement with said reaction pad.

3. A press according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means for said carriage includes means for maintaining the plane containing said platen parallel to a plane containing said platen in said first position thereof throughout a predetermined range of movement of said carriage and said platen.

4. The press according to claim 3 wherein said locating means includes a stop, and said returning means includes a spring engageable between said press frame and said carriage to bias said carriage for movement into engagement with said stop, said carriage defining said first position thereof when engaged with said stop.

5. A press according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means for said carriage includes a pantographic linkage coupling said carriage and said press frame one to the other.

6. A press according to claim 5 wherein said linkage includes a pair of bars and a bracket pivotally connected to said bars at like ends thereof, a housing connected to said bracket and carrying said wedge for sliding movement relative thereto, said wedge moving means including a fluid actuated cylinder carried by said carriage, and means carried by said housing guiding said platen for movement.

7. A press according to claim 6 wherein the opposite end of one of said bars is pivotally coupled to said press frame, a second bracket connected to the opposite end of the other of said bars and pivotally coupled to said press frame at a location intermediate the ends of said second bracket, a stop carried by said press frame and engageable with one end of said second bracket, and a spring engageable with said press frame and the other end of said second bracket to bias the latter against said stop thereby to maintain said carriage in a first position spaced above said support.

8. A press according to claim 1 wherein said support includes a table carrying a plurality of roller bearings whereby the pallet is readily shiftable about said table, means for locating said carriage in a first position spaced above said roller bearing a distance at least equal to the thickness of a pallet deckboard.

9. A press according to claim 1 adapted to apply a second reinforcing plate of the type having teeth struck integrally and projecting to one side of the plate to the opposite side of the one pallet deckboard and including a second platen in opposition to said first mentioned platen and carried by said press for movement in opposite directions respectively toward and away from the one pallet deckboard located between said platens, said second platen being adapted to embed the teeth of such second reinforcing plate into the one deckboard, and means carried by said press for moving said second platen and the second plate toward the one deck board for embedding the teeth of the second plate into the one deckboard.

10. A press for repairing the deckboards of pallets of the type having a pair of stringers and a plurality of deckboards overlying at least one side of the stringers, the press being adapted to apply reinforcing plates of the type having teeth struck integrally and projecting to one side of the plates along the opposite sides of a pallet deckboard comprising a press frame,

a pair of press platens in opposition to one another and carried by said press frame for movement toward and away fron one of the deckboards of the pallet disposed therebetween, one of said platens being adapted to embed the teeth of a first sheet metal reinforcing plate located between said one platen and the deckboard, the other of said platens being adapted to embed the teeth of a second sheet metal reinforcing plate located between said other platen and the deckboard, a carriage carried by said press frame and carrying one of said platens, means carried by said carriage for moving said one platen and the first plate toward the deckboard, means carried by said frame mounting said carriage and said one platen for movement in a like direction as said platen, reaction means carried by said frame on the side of the carriage remote from said one platen, said carriage being movable in a direction away from the deckboard into engagement with said reaction means whereby said reaction means provides a reaction force through said carriage for said one platen when the latter and the first plate are moved toward the deckboard to embed the teeth in the first plate carried thereby into one side of the deckboard, and means carried by said press frame for moving the other platen and the second plate toward the deckboard to embed the teeth of said second plate into the opposite side of the deckboard UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated September 24, 1974 Patent No. 3 ,837 557 Invent0 (s) John Calvin Jureit and Benjamin Harry Kushner It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby eorrectedas shown below:

Col. 1, line 48, "thereof" should read "hereof".

C01. 3, line 27, "activated" should read "actuated- Signed and sealed this 4th day of February 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A press for repairing the deckboards of pallets of the type having a pair of stringers and a plurality of deckboards overlying at least one side of the stringers, the press being adapted to apply reinforcing plates of the type having teeth struck integrally and projecting to one side of the plates along the underside of a pallet deckboard comprising a press frame including a support for carrying a pallet, a carriage carried by said frame and carrying a press platen for movement in opposite directions respectively toward and away from one of the deckboards of the pallet carried by said support, said platen being adapted to carry a sheet metal reinforcing plate for movement therewith, means carried by said carriage for moving said platen and the plate carried thereby toward the one deckboard for embedding teeth of the plate into the one deckboard including a wedge engageable with a complementary wedge surface on said platen, means carried by said frame mounting said wedge for movement in one direction causing the platen to move toward the one deckboard, said moving means further including means for moving said wedge in said one direction to move the platen and the reinforcing plate carried thereby toward the one deckboard, means carried by said frame mounting said carriage, said wedge, and said platen for movement in like directions as said platen, first reaction means carried by said press frame on the side of the carriage remote from said platen, said carriage being movable in a direction away from the one deckboard into engagement with said first reaction means in response to movement of said wedge in said one direction whereby said first reaction means provides a reaction force through said carriage for said platen when the latter and the reinforcing plate carried thereby are moved toward the one deckboard in response to continued movement of the wedge in said one direction, and second reaction means carried by said frame on the opposite side of the one deckboard from said platen to provide a reaction force against which said platen presses when it is moved toward the one deckboard thereby enabling embedment of the teeth of the reinforcing plate in the deckboard.
 2. The press according to claim 1 including means for locating said carriAge in a first position spaced above said support and means for returning said carriage to said first position after displacement thereof into engagement with said reaction pad.
 3. A press according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means for said carriage includes means for maintaining the plane containing said platen parallel to a plane containing said platen in said first position thereof throughout a predetermined range of movement of said carriage and said platen.
 4. The press according to claim 3 wherein said locating means includes a stop, and said returning means includes a spring engageable between said press frame and said carriage to bias said carriage for movement into engagement with said stop, said carriage defining said first position thereof when engaged with said stop.
 5. A press according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means for said carriage includes a pantographic linkage coupling said carriage and said press frame one to the other.
 6. A press according to claim 5 wherein said linkage includes a pair of bars and a bracket pivotally connected to said bars at like ends thereof, a housing connected to said bracket and carrying said wedge for sliding movement relative thereto, said wedge moving means including a fluid actuated cylinder carried by said carriage, and means carried by said housing guiding said platen for movement.
 7. A press according to claim 6 wherein the opposite end of one of said bars is pivotally coupled to said press frame, a second bracket connected to the opposite end of the other of said bars and pivotally coupled to said press frame at a location intermediate the ends of said second bracket, a stop carried by said press frame and engageable with one end of said second bracket, and a spring engageable with said press frame and the other end of said second bracket to bias the latter against said stop thereby to maintain said carriage in a first position spaced above said support.
 8. A press according to claim 1 wherein said support includes a table carrying a plurality of roller bearings whereby the pallet is readily shiftable about said table, means for locating said carriage in a first position spaced above said roller bearing a distance at least equal to the thickness of a pallet deckboard.
 9. A press according to claim 1 adapted to apply a second reinforcing plate of the type having teeth struck integrally and projecting to one side of the plate to the opposite side of the one pallet deckboard and including a second platen in opposition to said first mentioned platen and carried by said press for movement in opposite directions respectively toward and away from the one pallet deckboard located between said platens, said second platen being adapted to embed the teeth of such second reinforcing plate into the one deckboard, and means carried by said press for moving said second platen and the second plate toward the one deck board for embedding the teeth of the second plate into the one deckboard.
 10. A press for repairing the deckboards of pallets of the type having a pair of stringers and a plurality of deckboards overlying at least one side of the stringers, the press being adapted to apply reinforcing plates of the type having teeth struck integrally and projecting to one side of the plates along the opposite sides of a pallet deckboard comprising a press frame, a pair of press platens in opposition to one another and carried by said press frame for movement toward and away fron one of the deckboards of the pallet disposed therebetween, one of said platens being adapted to embed the teeth of a first sheet metal reinforcing plate located between said one platen and the deckboard, the other of said platens being adapted to embed the teeth of a second sheet metal reinforcing plate located between said other platen and the deckboard, a carriage carried by said press frame and carrying one of said platens, means carried by said carriage for moving said one platen and the first plate toward the deckbOard, means carried by said frame mounting said carriage and said one platen for movement in a like direction as said platen, reaction means carried by said frame on the side of the carriage remote from said one platen, said carriage being movable in a direction away from the deckboard into engagement with said reaction means whereby said reaction means provides a reaction force through said carriage for said one platen when the latter and the first plate are moved toward the deckboard to embed the teeth in the first plate carried thereby into one side of the deckboard, and means carried by said press frame for moving the other platen and the second plate toward the deckboard to embed the teeth of said second plate into the opposite side of the deckboard. 